With the passing of someone as well known and highly respected as Guilford County Board of Commissioners District 7 Representative Carolyn Coleman, there will be a whole lot of people who want to pay their last respects. 

On Monday, Feb. 1, Guilford County announced the schedule of events as well as a funeral that will take place on Thursday, Feb. 3.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, attendance at the services will be limited to 200 invitees – however, others who wish to watch may do so via live streaming.

Coleman was a resident of Pleasant Garden, however her funeral will be held on Thursday, February 3, at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church at 408 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Greensboro.  Later that day, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners will honor Coleman in what will no doubt be an emotional meeting.

Coleman died on Wednesday, Jan. 26, the same day that many of her fellow commissioners were attending the announcement at Piedmont Triad International Airport that Boom Supersonic would be locating in Greensboro.

 Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston no doubt felt a wide range of emotions that day as he spoke proudly in front of hundreds of this community’s giant accomplishment, but also, that day, visited his dying friend and fellow commissioner as she passed away.

Thursday’s service will honor Coleman’s life “as a public servant and celebrate her life as a loving parent, grandparent, community leader, civil rights activist, champion for equality, politician and friend,” according to the announcement put out by Guilford County on Monday.

Interment will take place at Coleman’s family burial plot in Savannah, Georgia.

There will be a public viewing on Wednesday, Feb. 2 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Greensboro.

Thursday’s events are as follows:

  • Noon – 1 p.m. New Zion Missionary Baptist doors open for second viewing for family members and invited attendees.
  • 1 .p.m. Funeral service, limited to 200 in-person invited attendees. All will be masked and are required to be fully vaccinated including a booster due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The church service will be limited to 200 in-person invited attendees and people will need to show their vaccination cards.

For those who were not invited or cannot attend, the service will be live streamed on the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church YouTube channel and on the church’s Facebook page. 

The service will also be live streamed on the Greensboro NAACP’s Facebook page.  Coleman was highly active in the NAACP for much of her life.

Professional services are being handled by Perry J. Brown Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Greensboro Alumnae Delta Cultural Enrichment Center, Inc. (GADCEC) P.O. Box 3444 Greensboro, NC, 27402  in support of the Carolyn Coleman Scholarship Fund.  Those with questions can call 336-549-2767.